Anna Maria Ferrero

When Americans recall famous Italian film goddesses, the names of Loren, Lollobrigida and Cardinale usually role quickly off the tongue. Not so for this Rome-born lead actress and brunet beauty who nevertheless made a respectable sexy impact in international films during the 1950's and early 1960's.She was born Anna Maria Guerra on February 18, 1934, but took the surname Ferrero as her stage moniker in tribute to the famed musical director and conductor 'Willy Ferrero' (qv). Anna Maria entered films as a teenager with a prominent second female lead for director 'J.J. Gonzales' (qv) in the drama _Il cielo è rosso (1950)_ (qv) (The Sky Is Red). Before long her delicate, photogenic beauty and assured talent would be captured on the lens of such important Italian directors as 'Michelangelo Antonioni' (qv), 'Mario Monicelli' (qv), 'Carlo Lizzani' (qv), 'Gianni Franciolini' (qv), 'Dino Risi' (qv) and 'Francesco Maselli' (qv). Although her career would only span slightly more than a decade, Ferrero achieved enviable notice for her work in films that included _The Forbidden Christ (1951)_ (qv) with 'Marina Berti' (qv) and 'Jacques Sernas' (qv); _Morgen ist ein anderer Tag (1951)_ (qv) (Tomorrow Is Another Day) with 'Pier Angeli' (qv); the ill-fated lead in _The Temptress (1951)_ (qv) opposite 'Michel Auclair' (qv); _Finishing School (1952)_ (qv) also with Sernas; _Poppy (1952)_ (qv) with 'Walter Chiari' (qv); _The Unfaithfuls (1953)_ (qv) with Lollobrigida; _Die Lust des Bösen (1953)_ (qv) with 'Marcello Mastroianni' (qv); as composer Verdi's wife in _The Life and Music of Giuseppe Verdi (1953)_ (qv) starring 'Pierre Cressoy' (qv); and _The Count of Saint Elmo (1951)_ (qv) with 'Massimo Serato' (qv).Anna's obvious allure and sensitive approach to acting made her a frequent, popular casting choice. Her rich role in _Chronicle of Poor Lovers (1954)_ (qv) was duly noted and the film went on to win two Silver Ribbons at the Cannes Film Festival. Although she acted rarely outside her native Italy, she was part of the international cast of 'King Vidor' (qv)'s epic drama _War and Peace (1956)_ (qv) headed by 'Audrey Hepburn' (qv), 'Henry Fonda' (qv) and 'Mel Ferrer' (qv). While she garnered fine reviews for her outpouring of film work, Anna also was accomplished on stage, joining 'Vittorio Gassman' (qv)'s theatre company and working there for several seasons. Notable were her Ophelia in "Hamlet," Desdemona in "Othello" (which she also portrayed on film with Gassman as Iago), and the title role in the musical "Irma la Douce." With Gassman, she also played Anna Damby in the cinematic version of the 'Alexandre Dumas' (qv) drama _Genie und Wahnsinn (1957)_ (qv). The couple had a personal relationship for several years.Following some lesser but spirited performances in the early 1960's films _Der Bucklige von Rom (1960)_ (qv), _Gold of Rome (1961)_ (qv) (both with French actor 'Jean Sorel' (qv)) and her last, _Countersex (1964)_ (qv), Anna surprised many by retiring at age 30 after marrying Sorel 'Jean Sorel' (qv) on January 28, 1962. The couple remained married until her death on May 21, 2018 in Paris.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net